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…says party decisions override individual announcements
By Lateef Ibrahim
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has defended its decision to announce former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the party’s position does not require separate confirmation from the nominee.
Speaking on Trust TV, monitored in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed concerns raised over Amaechi’s silence since the announcement, describing such expectations as misplaced.
According to Abdullahi, the ADC followed due process before unveiling Amaechi as its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, stressing that political parties and not indiviual candidates are responsible for making such declarations.
He argued that there was no precedent requiring a vice-presidential nominee to publicly accept a nomination immediately after it is announced by the party.
“What more do you expect from the candidate?” Abdullahi asked, noting that discussions and consultations would have taken place before the party arrived at its decision.
The ADC spokesman said the absence of any denial from Amaechi was sufficient evidence that there was no disagreement over the nomination.
He maintained that the party’s announcement remains valid and binding, emphasizing that no member of the party had challenged the decision.
Abdullahi further disclosed that both Atiku Abubakar and Amaechi would be formally presented to Nigerians at a later date, explaining that the party was not under pressure because the official campaign season had yet to begin.
He said the ADC was focused on strengthening internal democracy and building a political culture in which party structures take precedence over individual ambitions.
The spokesman also claimed that the ADC stands out among political parties for conducting what he described as a nationwide internal election involving members from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, the party remains committed to institutional politics and transparent decision-making as it prepares for the 2027 general election.
“The movement is unified, vigilant, and remains singularly focused on achieving the socio-economic liberation of Nigeria”, Umar concluded.
